Page 26 - Free State Spring 2022 - June FINAL

MANTS RECAP A Kelly Finney

MANTS Means Business-

Face to Face
MASKED
MASKED

From a show management perspective, we thought that simultaneously

preparing for the 2020 in-person show and MANTS’ 50th anniversary was

difficult yet extremely rewarding. We knew that we could do it, but we didn’t

want to do it again anytime soon.

Well, it turns out that preparing for 2020 was a picnic as in effect and robust cleaning and sanitizing procedures at
several months later the world was introduced to COVID- the Baltimore Convention Center and our allied business
19. Despite the uncertainty, we listened to the experts partners in place, we were very confident that the show
speculate that “it” would burnout by early summer and could be held safely.
optimistically prepared for a 2021 in-person show. That
During the first weekend of December, the media went into
was until early August 2020 when it became apparent
overdrive and on the subsequent Monday, our phone lines
that in-person trade shows would not happen, so we did a
and e-mail lit up but not for the reason you might think. Most
hard pivot and transitioned to an online business platform.
of the calls were from exhibitors and attendees asking us to
However, we can say without hesitation that we all learned
go forward with the in-person show and the truth is that the
that while technology absolutely has its place, there is NO
only way we would cancel was if the State or City declared
substitute for the business to business, face to face in-person
a state of emergency and closed the convention center. The
trade show experience. Even though the Business Hub
MANTS Board had voted unanimously that the show should
was well supported, and attended, and was a rewarding
be held barring an emergency declaration. And that’s what
accomplishment, it lacked the sense of emotional pride and
we did.
personal fulfillment of our traditional in-person MANTS.
We arrived onsite Sunday, January 2nd knowing that
As hard as the 2021 transition was, nothing could have
10% of our 920 exhibiting companies would not have
prepared us for what happened in the lead up to January
a physical presence (booth display) at the show. Many
2022. Prior to December 6, MANTS was on track to have one
other companies called to say that they were sending a
of the best years ever with attendance eclipsing the 2018
reduced number of staff, but that they would be there. We
and 2019 shows and very close to 2020, our 50th anniversary
communicated all along that everyone needed to do what
year. Hotel room reservations were well ahead of all previous
was best for themselves, their business, employees, and
years and the energy and enthusiasm to return to an
families and with each conversation, we were reminded of
in-person show format was palpable.
MANTS’ importance to the industry.
We were very aware of the Omicron variant and that the
Monday morning arrived with a new set of challenges in
local and national media was doing their usual best to whip
that snow, sleet, and freezing temperatures had hit the west
everyone into a frenzy as Thanksgiving approached. But
coast, Midwest, southeastern states and much of the east
with the mandatory Baltimore City indoor mask mandate
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26 SPRING 2022 • Free State News